Francis Preaches to the Birds

On one of his journeys in 1215, Francis stopped at a roadside area near the village of Bevagna. The trees and grounds were covered with birds of many species. St. Francis greeted them with the usual blessing of the brotherhood; "May the Lord be with you". He became overwhelmed by the Holy Spirit and started preaching a sermon of hope, praise and love to the birds. He was amazed that the birds were listening with attention and devotion. When he finished he urged them to praise the Creator for all that had been given to them, made the sign of the cross over them, and they all left at once, chirping joyfully. St. Francis believed that even the humblest of God's creatures were entitled to hear the Word of God, that they might have the opportunity to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

St. John Paul II

Charles Joseph Wotjtyła was born in 1920 in Wadowice, Poland. After his ordination to the priesthood and theological studies in Rome, he returned to his homeland and resumed various pastoral and academic tasks. He became first auxiliary bishop and, in 1964, Archbishop of Krakow and took part in the Second Vatican Council. On 16 October 1978 he was elected pope and took the name John Paul II. His exceptional apostolic zeal, particularly for families, young people and the sick, led him to numerous pastoral visits throughout the world. Among the many fruits which he has left as a heritage to the Church are above all his rich Magisterium and the promulgation of the Catechism of the Catholic Church as well as the Code of Canon Law for the Latin Church and for the Eastern Churches. In Rome on 2 April 2005, the eve of the Second Sunday of Easter (or of Divine Mercy), he departed peacefully in the Lord.